The Progress Park industrial park project is coming along with the help of multiple groups throughout Iberia Parish, according to Iberia Parish President Larry Richard. 

Richard said the parish is continuing to move forward with projects that have economic potential that are coming closer to reality. 

“On Wednesday night at the Iberia Parish Council meeting we witnessed what can happen when we function as partners throughout the parish,” Richard said. “The Iberia Development Foundation (IDF) has been working to develop a business park named Progress Point. All in an effort to enhance our ability to attract additional industry to Iberia Parish.

“While they have made great strides, the success of this project is dependent on cooperative efforts involving many of the entities within Iberia Parish.”

An example is the Acadiana Regional Airport access road project, as well as Iberia Parish Government working with the Department of Transportation and Development and the Acadiana Planning Commission to build a roundabout at Louisiana 675 and the ARA access road.

Richard said these structures are designed to be placed adjacent to the Progress Point, allowing appropriate access to the park.

“I support this infrastructure project and on Wednesday night the Iberia Parish Council showed that they support it also as they voted to make the needed funding available to IDF for a share of the matching money required,” Richard said.

Iberia Parish Government will appropriate $312,000 for the project, while IDF will provide $150,000 toward the match. Richard said that will result in a $2.3 million capital outlay infrastructure project in the parish.

“If the parish did not provide the funding for this, the project could not have moved forward,” the Parish President said. “This is another example of how well we are all working together, and because of these cooperative efforts positive movement is occurring in Iberia Parish.”

Richard also said construction has begun on Iberia Parish Government’s new Public Works facility. 

The construction is to renovate the building, and much of the framing is complete within the administrative building, Richard said. Richard said the sewer district installed a new lift station for the building, and completed plumbing connections.

“Ground work is ongoing, although the weather caused about two months in delays on this portion,” Richard said. “We are taking advantage of the recent dry trend and are getting as much work completed before rain returns. 

“We are still hoping to move at least two departments onto the grounds within the next two months. I am excited about this facility, and the opportunity to improve our response that it will offer.”